Tunneling-machine.



E. HOLTSMARK.

TUNNELING MACHINE.

APPLICATION r1150 APR. II. 1916.

Patented Oct. 3, 1916.

2 SHEETS-SHEET I.

E. HOLTSMARK.

' TUNNELING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED APR. 11. 1915.

1,290,]. 1 1 Patented Oct. 3, 1916. Q

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

L F mg l 50/ ERLING HOLTSMARK, 0F WHITE PLAINS, NEW YORK.

TUNNELING-MACHINE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Oct. 3, 1916.

Applcation filed April 11, 1916. Serial No. 90,417.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, ERLING HOLTSMARK, a citizen of the United States, and resident of White Plains, in the county of Westchester and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Tunneling-Machines, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to a device'for tunneling in earth, in which a rotary head having a curved helical face provided with a cutting edge placed at the front of a cylindrical shield cuts the earth and forces it to a cylinder fixed concentrically to the axis of the helix at the rear of the head and inside the shield, said head and cylinder being revolved by means of gears and a motor,

and during rotation lifts and discharges the earth to a hopper-by means of radial shovels fixed to said cylinder, the rotating head at the same time preventing the earth at the face of the tunnel from caving in.- I attain these objects by the mechanism illustrated in the accompanying drawing in which Figure 1, is a half-vertical section and halfrear View of the shield and rotary head at right angles of the axis of the helix and shield; Fig. 2, is a section through the shield and the rotary head on the line 1-1, Fig. 1; Fig. 3, is a front view of the rotary head; Fig. 4, is a sectional View on line 44, Fig. 2; Fig. 5, is a section through one of the lifting shovels on line 3-3.

Similar numerals refer to similar parts throughout the several views.

The head consists substantially of the following parts :a front steel plate 5, having a helical curved surface; a rear steel plate 6, of a spherical shape, having its center on the axis of the helix at 8; a rear circular steel ring plate 7, an inner steel plate cylinder 9, and an outer steel band 10, forming the'surface of a frustrated cone, the axis of which coincides with that of the helix. I All these plates are riveted to radial girder 11, curved and cut to fit the bounds of said plates.

Between the channel-shaped girders 12, which are curved as shown in drawing, Fig. 3, space is provided for a number of cutting knives l3, bolted, or hinged to girder 12, The front surface of said knives form part of the helical curved surface, the rear surface 14 being curved from the cutting edge to the rear spherical surface, while the third side rests against the back of the channel friction when the head rotates.

of the head having a helical curved shape' girder 12. -The cutting knife 35, next to the periphery of the head is of a special shape, being provided with two cutting edges, one of which is parallel to the axis of the helix and the other radial on the helical curved plate. It also has two curved surfaces, 14 and 15, which intersect each other, 14, curving to the rear, and 15 toward the center of the head. Several sets of these cutting knives may be provided, each of a different inclination, and in this way the opening 16, in the head may be varied to suit conditions. If, for instance, ground with small bowlders is encountered, it may be desirable to leave a large opening, while for quicksand the opening may be made as small as the pitch of the helical surface. In special cases, when a large obstruction is encountered, one or more knives may be removed, or swung back, so as to make mining of the obstacle possible. The cylinder 9, is concentric with the axis of the helix, and extends from the helical curved surface to the rear, as shown in drawing. The cylinder 17 is also concentric with the axis of the helix, and is riveted to the ring plate 7, and provided with a gear-wheel 18, on the outside, the diameter of the gearwheel being large enough just to clear the I beams 19, reinforcing the shield. The radial plates 20, connecting the outer and inner cylinders 17 and 9, have side plates 21, and 22, shaped as shown on drawing, forming large shovels. The inner cylinder has openings 23, one for each of the shovels. The

earth falling from the cutting knife into the outer cylinder 17 will, during rotation, be picked up by the shovels and fall through opening 23, into a hopper 24, from where I it can be transferred to a car, or belt concylinder 17, alternating with rollers 28,

which bear against the circular ring plate 7; the object of these rollers being to reduce The front front of the shield and thus prevents dirt head.

from lodging between the head and the shield. The conical shape also insures clearance for the head when advancing. Theoretically, there will be no skin friction on this plate, and this will give the head a certain amount of freedom when changing the direction of the tunnel. The inner cylinder 9, is open in the front, and has on its inner surface finplates 29, forming helical sur faces havin a large pitch.

As the earth from the face caves into the cylinder, the linplates 29, will roll it to the rear into ahopper 30, as shown in drawing. The purpose of having cylinder 9, open in the front, is to provide additional means for gaining access to the earth in front of the The shield consists of a cylindrical plate 31, reinforced by I beams 19, braced by horizontal and vertical girders, '32. The I beams, besides serving as seats for the bearings of the rollers and gear-wheel, form pockets for the hydraulic acks, 33.

I am aware that, prior to my invention, shields shoved by means of hydraulic jacks have been built of a cylindrical hood reinforced with I beams, and vertical, and horizontal girders. I, therefore, do not claim this; but

I claim:

1. In a tunneling machine, the combination with a shield, of an adjustable head having a helica-lly shaped and substantially closed front surface, said shield and head providing a protected working space, a cutting edge fastened to the head, and means for rotating the head.

2. In a tunneling machine, the combination with a shield, of an adjustable rotating head having a helically shaped and substantially closed front surface, said shield and head providing a protected working space, a cutting edge at a slot in the head, and means for rotating the head.

3. In a tunneling machine, the combination with a shield, of a rotary head having a frusto conical ring enveloping the end of the shield, a helical shaped front face to the head and having a central opening and a cutting edge, and means for rotating the head.

4:. In a tunneling machine, the combina tion with a cylindrical shield, of a frusto conical ring enveloping the end of the shield, a substantially helical shaped head on the ring and having a radial slot, a cutting edge at the slot, means for carrying ofi' the earth and means for rotating the head.

5, In a tunneling machine, the combination with acylindrical shield, of a helical head having a central opening, finplat'es in the central opening, disposing means for the dirt, a frusto conical ring about the edge of the head overlapping the shield and means for changing the position of the axis of said head relative to that of said shield.

6. In a tunneling machine, the combination with a shield, of a frusto conical ring at the outer edge of the shield, a helical shaped head on the ring and having a central opening, a cutting edge on the face of the head and having an adjacent slot, roller bearings within the shield and head, gear teeth, means for driving the gear teeth, shovels for emptying the central opening, finplates in the opening, and receiving means for the dirt from the shovels.

7. In a tunneling machine, the combination with a cylindrical shield, of a helical shaped head having a frusto conical ring overlapping the shield, an inner shell, a cutting edge between the face of the head and the inner shell, a cylinder opening at the *front of the head, finplates in the cylinder,

shovels radiating from the cylinder and emptying therein, means for receiving the dirt from the shovels, and means for rotating the head.

8. In a tunneling machine, the combination with a shield having anti-friction roll- ;ers at its front end, of a head having a helical outer surface, rings within the heat and supported by the rollers, a frusto conical ring at the outer edge of the head and overlapping the shield, a cutting edge on the face of the head, and means for collecting the dirt at the rear of the head.

9. In a'tunneling machine, the combination with a cylindrical shield, of rollers arranged on radial and horizontal axes around the front end of the shield, a ring bearingon the rollers with radial axis, a cylinder within and supported by the rollers with horizontal axis, a head with a substantially helical shaped front face, and having a central'opening, a cutting edge adapted to direct the dirt into the central opening, a

cylinder about the opening, dirt directing shovels between the cylinders and communicating with the central cylinder, and a hopper in line with the shovels.

' Signed'at White Plains, in the county of VVestchester and State of New York this tenth dayof April, A. D. 1916.

ERLING HOLTSMARK.

topics of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing: the-f-Commiss ionr of Patents,

Washington, .D. G. 

